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I was arrested for DWI tonight. I need help--other than not ever drinking again help--I need legal advice. How do I go about finding an attorney? What kind of trouble am I looking at.

I had a blow out; hit the guard rail. My car is undrivable. I blew a 1.0 (0.8 is the legal limit.)

What the fuck have I done to myself?? I don't need hugs; I need advice. I'm going to call my brother, the police office, later on this morning, but I need to be scared straight NOW! Any information would be greatly appreciated.

I am an idiot.

May your 2015 be more FUCK YEAH! than fuck this

Posts: 21013 | Registered: Jun 2009 | From: Upstate NY

Leia♀ 42510Member # 42510

Posted: 4:59 AM, February 23rd (Sunday), 2014

My divorce attorney's office also advertises that they do DWIs. Start with attorney's that you know and go from there.

"Somebody get this walking carpet out of my way." Princess Leia, Star Wars

Posts: 296 | Registered: Feb 2014 | From: Kansas

Catwoman♀ 1330Member # 1330

Posted: 5:35 AM, February 23rd (Sunday), 2014

Your brother is going to be a good place to get advice. As an LEO, he would know the attorneys who are successful at defending these charges.

Cat

FBS: Married 20 years, 2 daughters 25 and 22. Divorced by the grace of GOD.
D-Days: 2/23/93; 10/11/97; 3/5/03
Ex & OW Broke up 12-10
"An erection does not count as personal growth."

Posts: 29826 | Registered: Apr 2003 | From: Massachusetts

clba317♀ 8803Member # 8803

Posted: 6:21 AM, February 23rd (Sunday), 2014

I'll pm you the name of an attorney that my police officer ex mentioned after taking a police class from him. He wrote a book on dwi defense in NY.

[This message edited by clba317 at 6:22 AM, February 23rd (Sunday)]

BS
DS9,DS5
M 11, D 8/1/05- not soon enough!

Posts: 217 | Registered: Nov 2005 | From: NY

authenticnow♀ 16024Member # 16024

Posted: 6:45 AM, February 23rd (Sunday), 2014

Sad,

I know you don't want hugs but I wanted to give you one. (((((((SadinAZ)))))

Happiness is an inside job. ---William Arthur Ward

Posts: 40911 | Registered: Sep 2007

suckstobeme♀ 30853Member # 30853

Posted: 7:32 AM, February 23rd (Sunday), 2014

Oh no! I hope you are not hurt and am glad that no one else was involved.

You need a good attorney who regularly handles DWI cases in the local courts near you. The accident complicates things. If you had gotten pulled for rolling through a stop sign or hugging the white line and blew a 1.0, there would have been a good chance of pleading down to the lesser included offense, which is driving while impaired. A local attorney will know the prosecutors, judges, and the plea policies of the office when an accident is involved.

It may also help if this is a first offense and there is an opportunity to go to alcohol related counseling or some other type of program.

The main thing is that no one was hurt and that it was scary enough that this won't ever happen again.

BW - me
ExWH - "that one"
D - 2011
You get what you put in, and people get what they deserve.
Hard as it may be, try to never give the OP any of your power or head space.

Posts: 3018 | Registered: Jan 2011

ajsmom♀ 17460Member # 17460

Posted: 7:33 AM, February 23rd (Sunday), 2014

First off, glad you're OK.

I agree, your brother will be the best source for a good attorney.

Let's break this down. First offense, right? Not that you'll get a slap on the wrist, but from my experience with my X, first offenses are handled way differently than repeat offenses. You could probably Google minimum charges in NY. The big thing is how they categorize it - i.e., misdemeanor vs. felony.

There will probably be added charges for the damage to property. You may also have to pay for the guardrail.

ETA: Get the best lawyer you can afford. You'd be amazed at what they can do behind the scenes.

I second all the advice re: the attorney. Please don't panic, it's going to be okay. These things happen and we all know it wasn't intentional. I'm glad you weren't hurt.

"I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship." - Louisa May Alcott

Posts: 3290 | Registered: Dec 2008 | From: Mexico

tesla♀ 34697Member # 34697

Posted: 8:11 AM, February 23rd (Sunday), 2014

I have no advice. Just wanted to say that I'm glad that you are not hurt.

"Thou art the son and heir of a mongrel bitch." --King Lear

Posts: 4956 | Registered: Jan 2012

Chrysalis123♀ 27148Member # 27148

Posted: 8:19 AM, February 23rd (Sunday), 2014

(((((Sad)))))

It will be OK.

Donít get to the end of your life and find that you lived only the length of it; live the width of it as well.†

Posts: 3016 | Registered: Jan 2010

Sad in AZ♀ 24239Member # 24239

Posted: 8:33 AM, February 23rd (Sunday), 2014

clba gave me a referral,and I've spoken to two of the attorneys. I'll probably go the plea bargain route and get a conditional license. I don't know where I'll get the money, but it has to be done. I'm so desperately embarrassed.

May your 2015 be more FUCK YEAH! than fuck this

Posts: 21013 | Registered: Jun 2009 | From: Upstate NY

wildbananas♀ 10552Member # 10552

Posted: 9:29 AM, February 23rd (Sunday), 2014

No advice here either but wanted to say I'm so glad you're okay, Sazzy.

Travel light, live light, spread the light, be the light. ~ Yogi Bhajan

Posts: 15507 | Registered: Apr 2006 | From: Now an AZ girl

deeplysad♀ 16590Member # 16590

Posted: 10:16 AM, February 23rd (Sunday), 2014

The main thing is that you're okay. Somehow the rest of it will work itself out.

(((Sad)))

Me: BW - I'm much too young to feel this damn old
Him: FWH - Midlife crisis with a pathetic porn wannabe
D-Day: August 2004; Lots of false R until February 2005.

It takes all kinds of kinds....Miranda Lambert

Posts: 3273 | Registered: Oct 2007 | From: So Calif

Dark Inertia30727Member # 30727

Posted: 1:58 PM, February 23rd (Sunday), 2014

My mother and brother both have been arrested for DWIs. My mom, if I recall correctly, had to take some driving courses, and the second time she ended up spending the night in jail. She has been in at least one accident such as your own where she drove into someone's fence. However, she is very savvy with money, and just paid out of pocket for the damages. This was over a decade ago. I am grateful that she no longer drinks the way she used to, because it would terrify me whenever she would drive.

My idiot brother was arrested and kept in jail for a bit because he was driving while intoxicated and had warrants out for unpaid tickets. He married his girlfriend and straightened up.

On an unrelated note, I teased them both for their arrests once and they chided me, and said that I shouldn't be so smug... a month later I was arrested for an unpaid speeding ticket. I remember the humiliation of that quite well.

"If I listened earlier, I wouldn't be here. But that's just the trouble with me. I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it."

Posts: 1455 | Registered: Jan 2011 | From: The Ohio

scaredyKat♀ 25560Member # 25560

Posted: 2:04 PM, February 23rd (Sunday), 2014

In NJ first offense is 3 mos to 18 mos with no license, hefty fees, driver's classes, installation of a monitoring device after the license is reinstated. It is dependent on the level of alcohol when tested and amount of property damage if any.

(((Saz))) I'm so sorry to hear this, very glad nobody was seriously hurt.

Hard lessons.

DDay: June 15, 2008
Mistakenly married Mr. Superfreak
20 years of OWs, WTF?
Divorced Dec 26, 2011
"Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget
to sing in the lifeboats". -- Voltaire

Posts: 18104 | Registered: Jul 2008 | From: Canada

Jrazz♀ 31349Member # 31349

Posted: 2:47 PM, February 23rd (Sunday), 2014

I'm sorry I have no advice. I'm really glad you're ok. I just want to gently suggest that you not beat yourself up throughout this process. As we've advised countless others, committing to learn from this is the path out. It's going to be hard, but you have the right attitude about wanting to be scared straight. Something tells me you're never going to go through this again.

(((SadinAZ)))

"All the wars, all the hatred, all the ignorance in the world come out of being so invested in our opinions. And at bottom, those opinions are merely our efforts to escape the underlying uneasiness of being human. - Pema Chodron

Posts: 20916 | Registered: Feb 2011 | From: California

Sad in AZ♀ 24239Member # 24239

Posted: 3:03 PM, February 23rd (Sunday), 2014

As far as drinking is concerned, I sometimes have a drink before I go to bed since I started working nights; the OTC sleep meds make me foggy for an entire day afterward. I've been experimenting with lower doses, but I'm still not there yet.

I may go out to eat once every two weeks and have 1 1/2 beers; that's my limit--until last night. I made a very bad decision. I went to see a band that I like, but I didn't read the advert well. I got to the bar at 8 and the band didn't start until 10. I had never been to this bar before, and it was in an unfamiliar town. After I ordered my first beer, I saw a sign that said $20 minimum for credit cards--I never carry cash. I should have just laid down the $20 and gone home, but I figured I'd be there for at least 3-4 hours and I should be able to handle the beers; obviously not.

I will talk to the atty tomorrow about AA. I'm not a fan of 12-step programs, but if it helps my case, I'd do it. I don't need an alcohol intervention; I need a life intervention. I've been making poor choices lately.

May your 2015 be more FUCK YEAH! than fuck this

Posts: 21013 | Registered: Jun 2009 | From: Upstate NY

PurpleRose♀ 33129Member # 33129

Posted: 3:27 PM, February 23rd (Sunday), 2014

Admitting there is a problem is the first step, so I will say that is good to see. I am so glad you didn't hurt an innocent driver (or yourself) - people who drive drunk don't do so with the intentions of hurting anyone but all too often that is the result.

divorced the Dooosh
*****************************
even if you find your voice,
sometimes it does not matter anymore,
when you speak to a man who is deaf by choice.
~dodinsky